Ernest Gale Collins, 66, of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, died, Sunday, July 31, 2011 at the Veterans Medical Center in Salem.

He was born October 27, 1944 in Covington, a son of the late William "Bill" Collins and Betty Collins Thompson.

Gale gradated from the Covington High School Class of 63. He served in the United States Army. He retired as a pipefitter. During high school he played football and baseball for Covington High School.

He loved to hunt, fish and play softball.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Elene Butler and by three nephews, Bobby Lambert, Rocky Lambert and Randy Walker.

Surviving are two sons, Randy Collins and his wife, Amanda of Union, WV and Thomas Collins and his wife, Tania of Alexandria; three granddaughters, Harley Elizabeth Seabolt of Covington; Sara Dawn Collins and Katelyn Marie Collins, both Union, WV; one brother, William "Woody" Collins and his wife, Peggy of Rathburn, ID; four sisters, Hazel Miller of Reynoldsburg, Oh; Edna Buffaloe of Covington; Jewell Jamison and her husband, Jerry of Galloway, OH and Helen Hall and Charles of Columbus, OH; a friend, Linda Bowers of Sweet Springs, WV, and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be held Friday 6:00 p.m. evening, August 5, 2011 in the Arritt Funeral Home Chapel.

The family will receive their friends following the service on Friday at Arritt Funeral Home.

I keeping with his wishes, his body will be cremated.